If You Have a Lemon, Make Lemonade

by Warren Hinckle

The former editor of Ramparts magazine discusses muckraking and the American way of life in the turbulent sixties. As the muckraking editor of the fondly remembered Ramparts, Warren Hinckle was at the eye of the storm that was the 1960s. His memoir depicts such notorious figures Marshall McLuhan, Timothy Leary, Eldridge Cleaver, Jim Garrison, Fidel Castro and more.

Genres: Journalism, History, Memoir

386 pages, Paperback

Published April 17, 1990

Reviews

[Jith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read from the heart of anti-establishment 60s publisher of Ramparts. Warren seems more rambunctious raconteur, more libertarian-contrarian than justice warrior, but there are moments of righteous indignation at the gross inhumanity, hypocrisy and evil of individual and state crimes, mostly of imperialism. But moralism and indignation seem to have been Robert Scheer's role at Ramparts.

He's certainly got the gift of the gab, and I have never come across such a constant, relentless use of novel/resurrected metaphors; its like he struggles to write a paragraph without reaching for a humorous metaphor. There must be a few hundred in here, and the title one is at the duller end of the spectrum. But its quite messy - the occasional blurriness, inconsistency/disproportion and oblique turn of phrase makes me wonder at the toll of his heavy drinking, both at the time of events and at the time he wrote this.

The highlights for me, beyond his sometimes blistering turn of phrase, are his recounts of Garrison's investigation into JFK assassination; leaking the early academic 'soft power' tactics in the Michigan State-CIA projects in Vietnam; and Che and the race to publish his diaries (with help and some hindrance from Castro). But the core story of how they managed to even exist, chasing money from wealthy liberals and troublemakers, is fascinating.

It also made me want to read more of Ramparts. I guess the 70s version was Covert Action Information Bulletin (still going as CA magazine), but other than that, its an amazing feat that a small publication managed to blow holes in the government and MSM like they did. More, please.

Robert Scheer went on to co-found truthdig, one of the best alt media out there currently (though they are currently "on hiatus", which worries me....).

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is so tame compared to the contents! It should be updated with a new title such as, "If you have a lemon, make a vodka martini with a twist." A fascinating memoir about Ramparts Magazine from one of the main players. Reading this lead me to go find the issues of Ramparts from the 1960s that Hinckle edited and wrote in. We need journalists like this today, although I'm sure a magazine that pulled no punches such as Ramparts would also be left floundering financially by the people who need to read it.

[KennyO · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when it was published and it was a trip! The magazine was a real piece of work and Hinckle's look behind the scenes is that as well. If you're a pot stirring writer and editor you could surely do worse than follow his pattern of memoir. Ramparts is long gone but the mark it made persists, much thanks to Warren Hinckle.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly enjoyable account of Ramparts' crucial period.
The man can write most entertainingly.

[Ruqia Khan]

i just want to read it okay